Essay on The Debate Of Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide

Essay on The Debate Of Euthanasia And Assisted Suicide

Essay Preview

Euthanasia was a term that once was used to describe a peaceful way of gently dying, but over the past two centuries the use of this practice by the medical community has redefined the procedure, how it is applied, and who has the right to make such a directive (Boudreau & Somerville, 2014). This essay will delve into the two primary types of euthanasia (active and passive), the ethical issues rose by each type, and the laws about euthanasia in the state of Arizona. The consideration of legal euthanasia and assisted suicide has numerous proponents and antagonist that belief that it is the ultimate form of relief to those who are health stricken and strong bases who hold religious belief against how one leaves this world.
Active Euthanasia
Active euthanasia is the common form of euthanasia when the term is used. It can be done voluntary or involuntary, depending on the patient’s condition, in which a medical procedure is used to quall ones pain and suffering. Voluntary is done by the consenting patient who has willingly made the decision to end their own life. Involuntary euthanasia is decided when one’s charged caregiver, usually a family member or predetermined legal executor, selects the option as the patient is incapacitated and cannot make an informed decision on their own. Active euthanasia is done by someone other than the patient, usually in the form of a lethal injection of morphine or similar type of prescription (Begley, 2008). The ethical barriers that exist with active euthanasia is the patient is often not educated on all the forms of therapy that is available to the patient to assist them on improving their quality of life and options are often limited by practitioners directive (Boudreau & Somerville, 2014).
Passiv...

... middle of paper ...

...d and family asked that she be allowed to pass as keeping her alive was only causing her greater pain. Her family and the state of Florida, under the moral obligation to protect its citizens, had standing feud until 2005 when her feeding tube was removed, legally, that finally allowed her to pass. Hugo Claus was well-known author and poets who developed Alzheimer’s and was allowed to be euthanized in Belgium, where the procedure is legal, which was highly controversially in 2008. Be it passive or active, euthanasia is still a form of taking someone’s life and it is difficult to have an all-encompassing rule or law that is in the best interest of everybody. It is a topic that has received much debate and it will continue as so many influence exist (religious, morality, political, and self-desire) all come into play when one the responsibility of one’s life is decided.

Need Writing Help?

- Euthanasia was a term that once was used to describe a peaceful way of gently dying, but over the past two centuries the use of this practice by the medical community has redefined the procedure, how it is applied, and who has the right to make such a directive (Boudreau & Somerville, 2014). This essay will delve into the two primary types of euthanasia (active and passive), the ethical issues rose by each type, and the laws about euthanasia in the state of Arizona. The consideration of legal euthanasia and assisted suicide has numerous proponents and antagonist that belief that it is the ultimate form of relief to those who are health stricken and strong bases who hold religious belief agai... [tags: Euthanasia, Death, Suffering, Homicide]

- Euthanasia and Physician-Assisted Suicide: The Debate Continues "This could never be a crime in any society which deems itself enlightened." So said Jack Kevorkian on CBS's "60 Minutes" on November 22, on a segment showing the first nationally televised death by euthanasia in the U.S. Kevorkian offered the footage to CBS to dramatize his campaign for euthanasia for terminally and chronically ill patients. The film shows him giving a lethal injection in September to 52-year-old Thomas Youk, who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's disease).... [tags: Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide]

- Currently, physician assisted suicide and euthanasia are only legal in a few states, but for years, many have tried over and over again to get this practice to be legal nationwide. Upon searching the web for news and articles pertaining to this touchy subject, I found a video called Ad Campaign for Physician-Assisted Death. This video by Kelsey Milbourn supports my views and effectively shows the benefits to legalizing physician assisted suicide and euthanasia. Within this video, I was able to pull out the rhetorical situation, which is a diagram that ties together the speaker, speech, audience, occasion, and presuppositions of both the audience and speaker.... [tags: kelsey milbourn, euthanasia, assisted suicide]

- Assisted suicide is a controversial topic of debate. Laws against assisted suicide are beginning to weaken, although ethical questions will always exist. Most opposition of euthanasia comes from religious groups, including Judaism and Christianity. Although assisted death is opposed by these religions and others, it is favored not only by the individual person, but by our court system as well. In 1994 voters in the state of Oregon passed an initiative to allow doctors, at the request of a capable and terminally ill patient, to prescribe medication for the purpose of ending the persons own life.... [tags: Suicide, Death, Euthanasia, Assisted suicide]

- The topic of assisted suicide has been a controversial topic across North America. Although both supporters and critics have expressed very different and logical views on the matter, competent terminal patients should be given the right to decide when they want to end their overall suffering. Euthanasia in Canada distinguishes between active and passive euthanasia. Active, is the act of intentionally killing a person to relieve pain. While withholding or taking away life-preserving procedures such as water and food, is passive.... [tags: Death, Euthanasia, Suicide, Medical ethics]

- Although there are different forms, the practice of euthanasia is the process of ending an individual’s life. The different forms of euthanasia are Active and Passive euthanasia. There are also different ways that a physician may perform this type of procedure. This course of action may be taken in situations for speeding up the death, typically for medical patients who are severely ill. Some people, depending on their personal views may define it as putting someone out of their misery, where others would refer to euthanasia as being an assisted suicide.... [tags: Assisted Suicide, Right to Die]

- The Ethical and Political Debate of Physician Assisted Suicide Death is a very individual thing however as a society we all are affected in some why by an individual’s death. Society is affected by how a person dies, where they die, how this person lived prior to death and even after death the plans made or not made will in some way affect more than just the dying person. We as humans are cognitive beings and the loss of another human being gives as all very different thoughts and emotions. An individual whose life ends prematurely can put an emotional toll on the majority of individual’s be it shame, guilt, grief or relief.... [tags: Euthanasia, Medical ethics, Death, Suicide]

- Analysis of the Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide Debate This essay leaves no rock unturned in its analysis of the debate involving euthanasia and assisted suicide. Very thorough definitions are given for both concepts - with examples that clarify rather than obscure the reader's understanding. Euthanasia is the intentional causing or hastening of death in a person with a medical condition that is judged to be serious. The patient may either be (a) alert and (b) aware and (c) competent to make their own decisions and (d) able to communicate or the patient may have (a) decreased alertness (due to encephalopathy or coma), (b) diminished awareness (retardation, dementia, vegetative s... [tags: Euthanasia Essays]

- Moral Considerations in the Euthanasia Debate The Judeo-Christian moral tradition celebrates life as the gift of a loving God, and respects the life of each human being because each is made in the image and likeness of God. As Christians we also believe we are redeemed by Christ and called to share eternal life with Him. Our Church views life as a sacred trust, a gift over which we are given stewardship and not absolute dominion. The Church thus opposes all direct attacks on innocent life.... [tags: Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide]

- The AMA and Euthanasia/Assisted Suicide The American Medical Association (AMA) has long been known for its strong views. As the issue of euthanasia, particularly doctor-assisted suicide, has come to the forefront, the AMA has taken a strong position on this controversial subject also. This time the AMA has taken a firm stand for preserving, not terminating, the life of the elderly/handicapped/depressed/mentally ill, etc. patient. This essay will explain in detail the stand of this influential group of doctors.... [tags: Euthanasia Physician Assisted Suicide]